Napoli 1-1 Barcelona: Osimhen and Lewandowski on track in rating draw

Robert Lewandowski is again, however so is Victor Osimhen and meaning disaster golf equipment Barcelona and Napoli must settle their last-16 Champions League tie in three weeks time within the second leg.

Lewandowski made it 4 consecutive video games scoring along with his twelfth objective of 2024 to place Barcelona forward on 61 minutes and it was not more than they deserved after dominating the primary hour.

But it woke Napoli up, and, beginning his first recreation of the yr for the Italian champions, Osimhen majestically spun Iñigo Martinez quarter-hour from time and buried his shot previous Marc Andre ter Stegen to degree on the night time.

It was troublesome to know who was happier. Barça had the away draw however had performed so poorly for a lot of the recreation Napoli had possibly taken away greater than they deserved.

In the weeks main as much as the sport these two groups have been competing to see whose season might implode extra spectacularly however within the first half hour Barcelona performed with a confidence belying their state of affairs on an off the pitch.

Lewandowski ought to have scored on 21 minutes when Joao Cancelo pulled the ball again from byline to him however Meret saved it. Ilkay Gundogan adopted it up with a thundering shot which Meret saved once more.

The German was vastly influential in midfield as Barcelona dominated. Napoli have been taking part in just like the away crew with Osimhen effectively policed by Martinez, whereas a a lot sharper Jules Kounde and a dominant Ronald Araujo saved Khvicha Kvaratskhelia quiet. The solely detrimental for the primary 45 minutes was the failure to attain.

New Napoli coach Francesco Calzona is thought to not care an excellent deal about having extra possession however not solely have been his crew letting Barcelona have the ball, they went in at half time have conceded seven pictures and never mustered a single one themselves.

Matteo Politano headed effectively huge on the restart as Napoli lastly had an opportunity. But Barcelona have been quickly again on prime and once more Meret needed to save effectively from Gundogan.

Finally they went forward simply after the hour. It was Lewandowski’s 18th objective in all competitions this season.

Pedri discovered him with a intelligent cross inside the realm and he turned and shot by means of Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s legs and previous Meret in Napoli’s objective. Napoli had allowed Pedri to obtain the ball with time and area on the sting of the realm they usually paid the value.

The response got here on 75 minutes and from a person who was nearly to be taken off. Calzona was nearly to switch Osimhen however he turned Martinez and the Barça defender was nonetheless claiming in useless for a foul because the Nigerian striker celebrated having crushed Ter Stegen. It was his final kick earlier than being changed by Giovanni Simeone.

Suddenly the wind modified course and began blowing sturdy in direction of Ter Stegen’s objective. Simeone had a shot blocked for a nook and Andre-Frank Anguissa crashed a header huge. Barça did handle the final likelihood with Gundogan taking pictures simply huge. Xavi nonetheless hasn’t misplaced since saying he would give up on the finish of the season. Now his crew should make dwelling benefit depend on March 12 to make it into the final eight.